Nock Volley Gun

About the Nock Volley Gun

The Nock Volley Gun was a seven-barrel flintlock long arm designed by James Wilson in 1779 and manufactured by London gunmaker Henry Nock for the Royal Navy. Its seven brazed-together barrels of roughly .50 caliber all fired simultaneously from a single flintlock, the central barrel igniting the six surrounding ones through interconnecting vents, intended to sweep an enemy deck during boarding actions. Despite its fearsome volley, ferocious recoil and the risk of igniting a ship's own sails and rigging kept it from wide use, and it was withdrawn from service by 1804.

Designed to be fired down onto boarding parties from the 'fighting tops' of warships, it was rarely actually used at sea because discharging all seven barrels at once could ignite the ship's own rigging, and the brutal recoil could reportedly dislocate the firer's shoulder. It later became the signature weapon of Sergeant Harper in the Sharpe novels.

Nock Volley Gun specifications

Caliber varies by source (~.32 to ~.50 bore); Royal Museums Greenwich gives 0.5 in. Service powder charge was later reduced from 2.5 to 1.5 drams per barrel to tame the recoil. About 655 built between 1780 and 1788.